Oostduinkerke apartment
A front-row seat to the North Sea
Imagine waking up early in the morning on a summer day. You walk out of the bedroom, and the first thing your eyes are met with is an infinite view of the North Sea. No limits, no restrictions. The sea greets you right when you wake up, and the waves recite you the most enchanting good morning. All of it, in a home that integrates with the coastal environment, and in the company of a loved one. As idyllic as it may seem, this imagination is real, and it is tangible. It is a TJIP interior architecture creation.
Founded in 2012 by Jakob Vyncke and Thomas Messchaert, TJIP interior architecture holds a special bond with the sea. This specific apartment, located in Oostduinkerke (Belgium), however, has a unique characteristic that differs it from the other weekend residences designed by the studio: it was realized for the founder of TJIP, Thomas, and his wife Marieke. In other words, it is the most accurate and sentimental representation of not only TJIP’s signature but also its identity.
Defined by a refined approach to color, materials and textures, with a subtlety that stands as a vital base, the Oostduinkerke apartment checks all the boxes. The sophisticated symmetry provides an extraordinary sense of space, whereas the use of natural colors and materials creates a profound integration of the environment, all of which are enhanced by the elaborate play of light and shadow.
The one-bedroom apartment, conceived as a secluded escape destination where time doesn’t exist, is endowed with a natural sense of space. The open-plan living space is an extension of its surroundings: the beach visually continues on the parquet floor, and the sea continues its path in the walls with a clouded greige hue. An extraordinary illustration of the coordination of materials, color and proportions.
In fact, this is an essential characteristic in TJIP interior architecture. After years of working on the connection with the sea, with the aim to always maintain the priceless beach views untouched, after time, the architects of TJIP learned to make themselves invisible. Handing all protagonism to the sea, which goes hand in hand with the founder’s passion for it, the Belgian interior design studio is absent in their projects. Their trace is felt by the overall feeling of belonging to the landscape, by the serenity of the tones and the delicateness of the textures.
The natural colors are enhanced by the textiles, which soften the space and serve acoustics: the two side curtains provide a theatrical accent, where the sea acts as a stage. The perfect stage to wake up to and fall asleep to. 40 m2 of pure tranquility by the sea, held on the 16th floor. The materials and the colors are reduced to a minimum, but they remain elegant and modern. Not only that, but the furniture creates a delicate balance between straight lines and curves, as well as between soft and rough textures.
In this residence, light and shadow are intertwined, forming a captivating game of hide and seek. This play is accentuated, especially, by a certain detail: the candlelight. Since the 1950s building does not face the sea, daylight from the north enters diffusely. Because of this, and combined with its slight bend towards the beach, candlelight was introduced, adding to the soft atmosphere that governs the apartment. The result is a place to disconnect from the outside and connect with the person you share the space with. A front-row seat to the North Sea, its beach and its harmonious melodies.
